Four men freed from hopper in Town of Barre

BARRE – Four men were freed Monday from a hopper containing a mixture of sand and gravel after they became trapped at a commercial business in 4700 block of Eagle Harbor Road, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office said.

The hopper at Frontier Sand & Gravel, became blocked while it was being loaded at about 10:45 a.m., Sheriff Scott D. Hess said.

Jacob E. Vick, 20, of Albion, entered the hopper with his brother, Lawrence Vick, 22, also of Albion; Devin Taylor, 19, of Medina; and Richard Miller, 61, of Albion, to remove the blockage, authorities said.

Miller sank to an opening in the bottom of the hopper that leads to a conveyor belt and became totally covered in the material. Jacob Vick became partially covered while attempting to rescue him, Hess said.

Barre firefighters helped free the four, who were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct an investigation.